Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi

The duo's exposure is the US got a major boost when their animated series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi debuted on Cartoon Network, and this album is billed as the series soundtrack. Luckily for those without cable or the inclination to watch the animated adventures, this disc double as a "greatest hits" of sorts, taking tunes from the band's back-catalog and putting them all in one place. Things get off to a rollicking start with the show's narcotic theme song "Hi Hi". Even if you've never seen the toon, this ditty will wedge itself into your brain, and you won't be able to get it out for days. As you work through the album, you'll enjoy a delicate mix of bubbly pop songs and slightly slower ballads, but this energetic package doesn't slow down till the last note of the double addictive "Teen Titans Theme". My personal favorite in the disc is "Planet Tokyo" - its thumping guitar and steady, deliberate drumbeat make me want to get up from my desk, hop on a plane and get over there right now. Even if you've never seen the series, this Hi Hi soundtrack distills Puffy's J-pop prowess into an easily digestible dose.